title: DPC4 splice variants in neuroblastoma.
abstract: One of the loci for neuroblastoma suppressor genes is chromosome 18q21 where the DPC4 tumor suppressor gene, as well as the DCC and MADR2 genes, is located. DPC4 is a molecule of the TGF-beta signal which regulates differentiation of the neural crest precursor cells from which neuroblastoma originates. During the search for the significance of DPC4 as a candidate neuroblastoma suppressor gene, we found that there are at least two variant forms of the DPC4 transcripts by using the reverse-transcriptase-PCR procedure. The subsequent sequencing analysis has revealed that one is missing exons 5 and 6 and the other is missing exons 4-6. Both splice variants were frequently observed in neuroblastomas and at low levels in normal tissues. Though the functional role of the DPC4 splice variants is unknown, they might be important in regulating the TGF-beta signaling not only in neuroblastomas but also in other tumors and normal tissues.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemistry, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kageyama
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakiyama
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakagawara
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D001483:Base Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators